Moisture vapor indicator for packaged goods



Allg 3, 1948- H. B. cLlBBoN 2,445,361

MOISTURE VAPOR INDICATOR FOR PACKAGEDl GOODS Filed July 9, 1945 Patented Atug. 31?, 15948 oNiTED sTATEs PATENT orties MOISTURE VAPOR INDICATOR FOR PACKAGED GOODS Herbert B. Clibbon, Detroit, Mich.

Application July 9, 1945, Serial No. 603,968

Claims. 1

The invention relates to moisture vapor indicators for packaged goods.

Before aircraft engines or other goods that rust or are otherwise damaged by exposure to moisture are shipped overseas or transported in humid climates, they are wrapped individually in a moisture impervious material. On long shipments the g-oods must be inspected regularly to determine whether any moisture has penetrated the wrapping. If moisture is found inside the protective envelope the goods must be thoroughly dried and re-wrapped. As a precautionary measure and to expedite inspection of the goods it has become conventional practice to place a perforated, transparent receptacle containing a suitable moisture indicator and absorbent such as cobalt silica gel inside the wrapping. The cobalt silica gel absorbs any moisture that penetrates the wrapping and visibly reveals the presence of moisture by a change in color. In the case of aircraft engines or the like, the receptacle is usually held in a prominent position and prevented from moving about inside the wrapping by providing it with a threaded neck and screwing the latter into a spark plug opening.

It obviously is necessary that the goods be inspected Without removing the protective envelope. Transparent Wrapping materials such as Cellophane have, therefore, been Widely used. However, none of these materials have proved entirely satisfactory since in general they are not completely impervious to moisture and it is difficult to seal the edges of the wrapping with glue or other adhesive so that the joints or seams do not open or pull apart under the abuse of handling and shipment. Opaque Wrapping materials'such as cloth or heavy paper lined with metallic foil have also been extensively used and while these materials are superior to the transparent materials in the above respects, they have the disadvantage that it is more diiiicult to inspect the goods and that a Window must be provided through which the receptacle can be seen. The window usually comprises an opening in the wrapping covered by a piece of Cellophane or the like. The Cellophane is merely placed over the opening and held in place by a suitable adhesive. However, the same diiiculty has been experienced as with the transparent wrappings; viz., it is di'lcult to obtain a satisfactory bond between the transparent material and the wrapping material that will withstand the rough treatment which the goods receives during handling and shipment.

(Cl. S12-31.1)

2 that simple and inexpensive procedures must be adhered to since the Wrappngs are usually used only once and thendiscarded. i -f According to the instant invention the receptacle is attached directly to the wrapping instead of to the goods, In this position thereceptacle is easily visible outside the package and, since it is made of rigid material, it can be lmechanically clamped to the flexible or pliable wrapping material toassure a moisture tight joint therebetween. The Wrappingmaterial may be either transparent or opaque, although the latter is preferred due to its greater imperviousness to moisture and the relative ease with which its edges can be sealed to withstand handlng and shipment. When the wrapping has been applied to the `goods the receptacle communicates with theA interior of the envelope thus formed to absorb any moisture that may 'gain access therein and to indicate the presence of such moisture byv a change in color. l

In the drawings forming a part of this specicationand wherein like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package embodying the invention; 'f Figure 2 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l and showing the manner in which the receptacle is attached to the wrapping material; and 't Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2 but showing a modified form of receptacle. f Attention is rst directed to Figure l which shows a package or envelope comprising wrapping material A' and a receptacle B. The latter preferably is mounted in an opening formed sub stantially centrally of thewrapping materiali's'o that it will be positioned at approximately the top of the package when such material' is' wrapped around the goods. f

The wrapping material A here shown is formed from a suitable'fabric Ii) which is lined with metallic foil I2. The receptacle B includes a container for'gthe moisture absorbent and lindi-V cator C. The container which isr transparent and may conveniently be formed from suitable plastic materials such as synthetic resins, includes a cylindrical wall i4, a closed top i6, and a perforated bottom I8. If the container is made of thermo-plastic material the bottom I8 may be formed separately and secured to the wall I4 by application of heat after the moisture absorbent and indicator material is placed therein.

A collar 20 and locking ring 22 form a coupling 3 which supports the container in the opening as best shown in Figure 2. The collar is formed with internal threads 24 and external threads 28, the former being engaged by external threads 26 on the lower portion of the container wall I and the latter being engaged by the internally threaded locking ring 22. A radial flange 30 on the collar extends under the material A around the opening andro-.operates with the locking ring 22 to clamp the material therebetween. Gaskets 32 and 34 are positioned between locking ring 22 and flange 3l] and at opposite sides fof the material to assure sealed joints therebetween.

It is also desirable that the external threads .fr

Vmaterial therebetween.

be coated with a suitable sealing compound before the container is screwed into the collar 2li tainer and the collar.

When wrapping the goods material A isyplacled!l thereon with the receptacle B disposed to be dearlyvisble when the wrapping Operation vis completed-- The materielle-then; Wrapped about the goods and sealed in the conventional manner :toI form a moisture-impervious envelope. Theolamping-actionof lockingring 22 and nange .3,0 prevents the material from pulling away from the receptacle and assures a moisture tight joint therebetween that will withstand the ordinary abuse-which -the-goods receives during shipment.

While meccanica :is here;4 Sheva projecting substantially above the collar `2li, it may be positioned lowerintheeellar-if desired Although the container is more easily visible for inspection when vvmounted in the manner shown it may benecessary to position it lower in the collar if Y thegoods are to receive rough treatment.

In-Figure 3 is shown a modification of the retentacle- This -orm of, the invention is identical to the form hereinabove described except that the-collar 2!) is eliminated-and the :cylindrical wall I 4 of the container iS 'extended below the -bottom r1,8 `and formed with :a radial flange 35 which extendsunder the. materiel around the Openingand so-operatesA with thenlockne fine Z2 to .clamp .the material; therebetween. In .this adaptation of the invention, the internal threads @Hoelang ring 422 engage; ,directly with the `extern@- threads 25 on Wall 1 4'.V It will be observed that the threaded'- portionpf the wall is slightly larger in diameter -thanthellpeer portion thereof Sg. that -loekioarins `21211211.11@ be brought veasily i t0 engagement the :threads 26..

lt is to be understood that the Yforms of the inception herewith shown ,and described are vto insteken as preferred Examples 0f the seme and 4 and indicator means in the container; a rigid coupling carried by the container clamped to the material around the opening; and sealing means between the coupling and said material.

2. A covering for packaged goods comprising an envelope of exible wrapping material formed with an opening; a transparent container disposed in said opening and communicating with the interior of the envelope; a collar carried by the container having a radial iiange extending under the material around the opening; moisture absorbent and indicator means in the container:

.and a locking ring on the collar above the materialen-operating with the ilange to clamp said 3..A; covering for packaged goods comprising an envelope of iiexible wrapping material formed that various changes in the Size,-`$l;1apeand er I rangement -of partsmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope. of .theappended claims.

What is claimed is: v

J.,v A covering for package-d goods comprising anvenvelcpe of flexible wrapping material formed with an opening;A a transparent containeii disposed in said lopening and communicating ywith theinterior ofk thefenvelope; .moisture absorbent a perforated bottom; a collar surrounding the container and threadedly connected thereto, said collar being externally threaded and having `a radial flange extending under the material around the opening; and a vlocking ring threadedly engaging the external threads oi the collar and co-acting with said radial flange to vclamp the material therebetween.

4. A covering for packaged goods comprising an envelope of flexible wrapping material formed with an opening; a transparent container disposed in said opening and communicating with the interior of the envelope, said container formed with external threads and having a radial flange extending under the material around the opening; moisture absorbent and ,indicator means in the container; and a lockingring threadedly engaging said external screw threads ,and co-acting with the flange to clamp the material therebetween.

5. A covering for packaged goods comprising an venvelope of flexible wrapping material formed with an opening; a transparent container disposed in said opening and communicating with the interior of the envelope; moisture absorbent and'indicator means in the container; and means attaching the container to the material around the opening, said means having a sealed engagement with the material to form a moisture tight joint therebetween.

' HERBERT B. CLIBBON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record the -le of this patent:

UNTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,222,656 Moyer Apr. 17, L91? `2,278,198 Hall Mar. 3l, 1942 2,322,213 Amberg June A22, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number v Country Date 437,139 Great Britain Oct, 19,35 

